maandag 8 juni 2009

Memorial Tekstplaat

TANK MEMORIAL

YPRES SALIENT

"FEAR NAUGHT"

THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES THE TANK CORPS, FORMER HEAVY BRANCH MACHINEGUN CORPS TANK CREWMEN AND ACCOMPANYING INFANTERYMEN WHO FOUGHT AND FELL IN THE YPRES SALIENT. THESE ASSAULTS SUPPORTED BY ARMOUR WERE CARRIED OUT IN THE MOST ATROCIOUS CONDITIONS. THESE BRAVE MEN FOUGHT AN EQUALLY BRAVE, RESILIENT AND WELL ENTRENCHED ENEMY AS WELL AS THE VERY BATTLEFIELD ITSELF! ON OCTOBER 9th 1917, EIGHT TANKS DEPLOYED INTO THIS SYMBOLIC VILLAGE. ALLEITHER SANK DEEP INTO THE MUD OR WERE DESTROYED WITH MANY CREWMEN BEING KILLED AND WOUNDED. TANK DAMON II SLIPPED INTO A DEEP SHELL CRATER AND WAS KNOCKED OUT ON THE SIDE OF THIS CROSS ROADS. LATER IT WAS PLACED AS A MONUMENT ON THE VERY SPOT WHERE THIS TANK MEMORIAL STANDS TODAY.

THIS WAS THE LAST ATTEMPT TO DEPLOY TANKS EN MASSE INTO THE QUAGMIRE OF THE YPRES SALIENT. AS FAR AS THE TANK CREWS WERE CONCERNED, THE YPRES SALIENT HAD ACQUIRED A NEW NAME:

"THE CEMETERY OF THE TANKS"

"FROM MUD, TROUGH BLOOD TO THE GREEN FIELDS BEYOND"

MUCH OF THE VILLAGE WAS CAPTURED DURING THIS FINAL 3rd BATTLE OF YPRES ASSAULTS. HOWEVER, THE BRITISH WERE UNABLE TO HOLD THEIR GAINS.POELCAPELLE ITSELF WOULD CHANGE HANDS AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL ITS FINAL CAPTURE BY BELGIAN TROOPS UNDER THEIR KING IN THE FINAL ADVANCE